Review and Recipes! Taste of Home Cooking School

Published by: Readers Digest
Release Date: March 15th, 2012
Number of Pages: 320
How I Got This Book: review copy from FSB Associates
My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

"No matter what you crave, cook it with confidence with taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook! Whatever your skill level in the kitchen, you will learn step-by-step techniques and discover new favorites with more than 400 best loved recipes and over 600 full-color photos from our expert instructors. Create a memorable game-day-get-together with nacho dip, hot wings and yummy pizza. Master the grill with succulent ribeyes, monster stuffed burgers and a whole salmon fillet that’s a real showstopper. Whip up sumptuous holiday meals with all of the trimmings from citrus-rosemary rubbed turkey with artichoke stuffing to chipotle sweet potatoes and caramel apple trifle. The Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook features delicious dishes from breakfast to lunch to dinner and including dessert, of course.Sample recipes include:


Eggs Benedict Casserole Brie Phyllo Cups Sweet-Tangy Wings French Onion Soup Lemon Chicken Tortellini Taco Lasagna Roasted Chicken with Oyster Stuffing Sizzling Ancho Ribeyes Creamy Parmesan Spinach Chocolate Mousse with Cranberry Sauce Easy Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie

Contemporary topics are comprehensively explored with techniques ranging from simple basics to true wow-factor recipes. Each recipe has been tasted and reviewed in the Taste of Home test kitchen, plus there are over 140 practical, proven tips from our Cooking School experts—so you’ll enjoy perfect results every time."

Review:

First, I want to thank FSB Associates for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

My "off-the-bat" impression was how beautiful this book is - it is chock full of gorgeous photos of every recipe! It is very well-organized, and full of basic cooking tips, "cheats", and other helpful hints. The recipes are realistic - the ingredients are not impossible to obtain, the preparation times aren't intimidating. Basically, it is exactly the kind of cookbook I love. I will definitely get lots of good use out of it! I made a whole meal from the book tonight...

I made Turkey Cutlets with Pan Gravy, Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce, and Creamy Noodles. Here are some recipes:

Turkey Cutlets with Pan Gravy

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

1/4 tsp pepper, divided

1 pkg (17.6 oz) turkey breast cutlets

2 tbsp canola oil

2 tbsp butter

1/4 c. all purpose flour

2 c. chicken broth

Combine the poultry seasoning, seasoned salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Sprinkle over turkey. In a large skillet, cook cutlets in batches in oil for 2-3 minutes on each side or until turkey is no longer pink. Remove meat to a serving platter and keep warm.

In the same skillet, melt butter and stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; season with remaining pepper. Serve with turkey.

Creamy Noodles

8 oz uncooked thin spaghetti

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp butter, divided

6 oz fat free cream cheese, cubed

3 tbsp reduced fat sour cream

3 tbsp fat free milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp Cajun seasoning

1/4 tsp white pepper

4 1/2 tsp minced fresh parsley

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic in 1 tbsp butter for 1 minute. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, salt, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, pepper and remaining butter. Cook and stir over low heat or until smooth (do not boil). Remove from the heat. Drain spaghetti; toss with cream sauce. Sprinkle with parsley.

For dessert, I made Lemonade Icebox Pie. Let me start by saying that while I am a pretty good cook (if I do say so myself), for some reason, I just can't seem to bake, or create much of any kind of dessert. So, I chose one that didn't require baking. Weeeelll....it TASTED good anyway....it just didn't turn out very pretty, lol. It didn't set very well, despite being refrigerated all day long, and in the freezer for over an hour. Oh well. It tasted good though!

Lemonade Icebox Pie

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 c. thawed lemonade concentrate

1 carton (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Yellow food coloring, optional

1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in lemonade concentrate. Fold in whipped topping and food coloring if desired. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate until set.

(Ummmm, after typing that, I just realized what my problem was...I dumped in the whole can of lemonade concentrate instead of measuring out 3/4 cup....ooooooooops. My bad.)



Final verdict...the turkey was delicious! Even my normally picky non meat eating daughter declared it yummy! This turned out the best gravy I've ever made! The noodles were very good...would be good as a main dish with chicken in it too. The broccoli and corn was good, but a little soupy. My family loved everything!

I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook....I will be using it very, very often!